Jul 22, 2025
Courtesy photo The Kelley Federation 13U championship baseball team headed to California includes: (from left) First row—Chance Butler, Kolton Meloy, Trenton Farabaugh, Zyler Hertzler, Dominic Pyo, Cooper Miller, Madix Mellott, coach Richie Butler. Second row—Manager Johnny Mellott, Brennan Kirsch, Matt Bonin,Ryan Daniels, Kannan Shields, Gunner Smith, Porter Jones, Cartner Lechner, Trae Triplin, coach Josh Farabaugh.
The George B. Kelley Amateur Baseball Federation is sending a team to California to compete in an international tournament.
The GBK Federation 13U All-Stars won the Pony Baseball 13U East Zone championship in Hagertown, Md., over the weekend to advance to the Pony 13U World Series in Carlsbad, Calif., beginning Friday.
The team will depart Thursday morning with the hopes of bringing back a World Series title. The double-elimination tourney will run through Monday, July 28.
Opening ceremonies are scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday (10 p.m. EDT), with the local team’s first game slated for 3 p.m. Friday (6 p.m. EDT) against a team from San Diego.
“This group has shown incredible dedication and teamwork,” Kelley Federation president Jeremy Chaplin said. “To go undefeated at the East Zone championship and now represent Altoona on an international level is something truly special for our league and area.”
Other teams in the 10-squad tourney include the host team, Carlsbad, Calif.; Placentia, Calif.; Chicago, Ill.; Brownsville, Texas; Vega Alta, Puerto Rico; Tijuana, Baja Mexico; Chiba, Japan; and Chinandega, Nicaragua.
The GBK roster includes Brennan Kirsch, Carter Lechner, Chance Butler, Cooper Miller, Dominic Pyo, Gunner Smith, Kannan Shields, Kolton Meloy, Madix Mellott, Matthew Bonin, Porter Jones, Ryan Daniels, Trae Triplin, Trent Farabaugh and Zyler Hertzler.
The team is managed by Johnny Mellott and coached by Richie Butler and Jesse Hertzler.
Any businesses or individuals willing to make a donation to help offset the cost of travel, food and accommodations can contact George B. Kelley Federation Baseball or manager Johnny Mellott directly at (814)-569-9566.
The Kelley Federation will also be sending a 14U team to Poland, Ohio, later this week to compete in the Pony Baseball 14U East Zone West Region championship with three other teams.
The GBK 14U team opens play at 10 a.m. Friday against a team from Ohio. The winner of the double-elimination tournament advances to the East Zone championship in High Point, N.C., with that winner moving on to the Pony 14U World Series in Washington, Pa., Aug. 8-13.
Other tourneys this week
– The Kelley Federation 19U playoffs are currently in the semifinals with the best-of-three finals scheduled to begin Saturday. The Federation 15U and 13U divisions have just started with play-in games for their playoffs.
– The Greater City Baseball League best-of-three semifinals are scheduled to begin Friday at Vets Field with the best-of-five finals slated to start Monday, July 28.
– Altoona AAABA team Cumming Motors begins play in the single-elimination Rust Belt playoffs by hosting the Allegheny A’s at Claysburg-Kimmel High School at 6:30 p.m. today.
– The Altoona Teener League’s 19U championship game is slated for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Seitz Field. The Altoona Teener 15U Division begins a seven-team double-elimination tournament on Wednesday with the championship slated for Monday, July 28.
– Claysburg Legion made the final four of the Pa. American Legion Region 7 tournament and will play again today at 2 p.m. in Sidman with the hopes of making Wednesday’s championship round.
– The Courtesy KIA Little World Series double-elimination tournament is through three days of competition. The championship is scheduled for Saturday in Claysburg.
– The Hollidaysburg Area Summer Baseball League currently has two teams competing in Pa. Little League state tournaments. The 11U team will play in the championship game at 6 p.m. today in State College against East Side. The 12U team lost its first game on Monday in Fairchance and now must win six straight games to claim the state title.
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